Luvofthegame
09-04-2006, 02:56 PM
Jim Souhan,
Star Tribune
September 03, 2006
NEW YORK - As the Twins dressed in the dank underbelly of Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as they shook off a beating and cheered as the Royals beat the White Sox on the big screen in the corner, I asked Torii Hunter why we've stopped seeing his highlight-reel catches.
In the third inning on Sunday, Bobby Abreu hit a ball to deep center. The first reaction of everyone I talked to was, "Torii will catch it." He didn't come close.
Hunter started slowly and took a shallow route before peeling toward the wall. The ball landed behind him, on the grass, before rolling to the fence. That hit led to a four-run Yankees inning. If there is a key play in a 10-1 game, that would be it.
After the game, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and right fielder Michael Cuddyer defended Hunter. Gardenhire said the ball was "crushed." Cuddyer said the winds that swirled through The Stadium all weekend made every ball an adventure.
But this is Torii Hunter, who used to catch everything the fans couldn't, who has won five consecutive Gold Gloves, who has never let a fence or a turf burn stand between him and a play for the ages.
Why hasn't he made the catches he used to make? Why haven't we been reminded lately that there are the same number of "i's" in highlight as there are in Torii?
"I don't think I've had the opportunity," he said. "You've got to have opportunities. I had one in Detroit, and it hit off my glove.
"I really can't explain it. I know I'm the best."
As of last year, the debate about great center fielders centered around the wonderfully instinctive Andruw Jones and the passionate, self-made Hunter. For those of us who appreciate effort and pain tolerance, Hunter was the easy choice.
Even if you attribute this weekend's outfield misadventures to wind and rain, Hunter simply hasn't done what he used to do.
Why? "Well, I've got a broken foot," he said.
When an established player performs below his ability level for an extended time, there is usually something wrong, and that something usually is an injury.
Hunter has tried to downplay the pain, because he rarely makes excuses, but he eventually admitted that he can't perform at his usual level with a busted foot.
"You've got to think about it," he said. "If I've got a broken foot, I'm running flatfooted, I can't jump. As I get going, that's when my speed picks up.
"But my first step is slow. It's getting better, though. I'm running down the line better. I'm running in the outfield better."
Hunter told me earlier this season that the Metrodome turf takes a terrible toll on his body, that he would sign a long-term deal with the Twins only if it guaranteed him a chance to play on the new stadium's grass in 2010.
That is why the Twins' decision regarding Hunter could be tricky. They can either pick up his $12.5 million option, negotiate a new deal with him, or buy out the contract.
Hunter has been a winning player and charismatic personality for a resurgent franchise that just received approval of a new stadium, but every time he has crashed into a fence or dived across the turf he has damaged the body that the Twins have to evaluate as a long-term investment.
In two consecutive seasons, Hunter has gone on the disabled list because of a leg injury, and now his range has at least temporarily diminished.
Won't his foot get worse? "See, I don't know that," he said. "In the offseason, I know it's going to be 100 percent. You go home and rehab -- I'll be 100 percent next year.
"This year, I won't. It's sad."
This weekend, Hunter hit two homers, giving him seven in 11 games.
He also played host to Tim Graupe, 15, who is afflicted with neurofibromatosis, which produces tumors and abnormalities in the cranial and neck areas.
Graupe became a fan years ago, when other stars ignored his requests and Hunter embraced him. Graupe honored Hunter by spelling his name "Timii." Friday, Graupe got to act as batboy.
Hunter's that kind of guy.
He's also playing with a busted foot that might not heal while he's wearing a Twins uniform.
Hunter's right. That's sad.
Star Tribune
September 03, 2006
NEW YORK - As the Twins dressed in the dank underbelly of Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as they shook off a beating and cheered as the Royals beat the White Sox on the big screen in the corner, I asked Torii Hunter why we've stopped seeing his highlight-reel catches.
In the third inning on Sunday, Bobby Abreu hit a ball to deep center. The first reaction of everyone I talked to was, "Torii will catch it." He didn't come close.
Hunter started slowly and took a shallow route before peeling toward the wall. The ball landed behind him, on the grass, before rolling to the fence. That hit led to a four-run Yankees inning. If there is a key play in a 10-1 game, that would be it.
After the game, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and right fielder Michael Cuddyer defended Hunter. Gardenhire said the ball was "crushed." Cuddyer said the winds that swirled through The Stadium all weekend made every ball an adventure.
But this is Torii Hunter, who used to catch everything the fans couldn't, who has won five consecutive Gold Gloves, who has never let a fence or a turf burn stand between him and a play for the ages.
Why hasn't he made the catches he used to make? Why haven't we been reminded lately that there are the same number of "i's" in highlight as there are in Torii?
"I don't think I've had the opportunity," he said. "You've got to have opportunities. I had one in Detroit, and it hit off my glove.
"I really can't explain it. I know I'm the best."
As of last year, the debate about great center fielders centered around the wonderfully instinctive Andruw Jones and the passionate, self-made Hunter. For those of us who appreciate effort and pain tolerance, Hunter was the easy choice.
Even if you attribute this weekend's outfield misadventures to wind and rain, Hunter simply hasn't done what he used to do.
Why? "Well, I've got a broken foot," he said.
When an established player performs below his ability level for an extended time, there is usually something wrong, and that something usually is an injury.
Hunter has tried to downplay the pain, because he rarely makes excuses, but he eventually admitted that he can't perform at his usual level with a busted foot.
"You've got to think about it," he said. "If I've got a broken foot, I'm running flatfooted, I can't jump. As I get going, that's when my speed picks up.
"But my first step is slow. It's getting better, though. I'm running down the line better. I'm running in the outfield better."
Hunter told me earlier this season that the Metrodome turf takes a terrible toll on his body, that he would sign a long-term deal with the Twins only if it guaranteed him a chance to play on the new stadium's grass in 2010.
That is why the Twins' decision regarding Hunter could be tricky. They can either pick up his $12.5 million option, negotiate a new deal with him, or buy out the contract.
Hunter has been a winning player and charismatic personality for a resurgent franchise that just received approval of a new stadium, but every time he has crashed into a fence or dived across the turf he has damaged the body that the Twins have to evaluate as a long-term investment.
In two consecutive seasons, Hunter has gone on the disabled list because of a leg injury, and now his range has at least temporarily diminished.
Won't his foot get worse? "See, I don't know that," he said. "In the offseason, I know it's going to be 100 percent. You go home and rehab -- I'll be 100 percent next year.
"This year, I won't. It's sad."
This weekend, Hunter hit two homers, giving him seven in 11 games.
He also played host to Tim Graupe, 15, who is afflicted with neurofibromatosis, which produces tumors and abnormalities in the cranial and neck areas.
Graupe became a fan years ago, when other stars ignored his requests and Hunter embraced him. Graupe honored Hunter by spelling his name "Timii." Friday, Graupe got to act as batboy.
Hunter's that kind of guy.
He's also playing with a busted foot that might not heal while he's wearing a Twins uniform.
Hunter's right. That's sad.